Closing the Gap: A Guide to Gearing up in 4.1

Many players have alts, but are they geared? And how about your main, have you started raiding yet? Well, if your answer to either question was no, you're in luck. 4.1 introduces some additions that make the game more friendly and the gear gap smaller, from additional BoAs to changing valor point gains in heroics. Most importantly, 4.1 brings about the revamped 5-player dungeons Zul'Gurub and Zul'Aman! The bosses from these dungeons drop ilvl 353 epic loot—potentially cutting out hours of farming heroics and doing dailies. But with so much new loot, what should you really keep an eye out for?

See how good the new loot is and also see what gear is easily obtainable before raiding right after the break!

This guide does not aim to provide a ideal set of ilvl 346-359 gear for each class and spec; rather it analyzes all the new ilvl 353 loot in the context of current options (epic BoEs, ilvl 346 heroic loot, Justice/Valor point rewards, reputation rewards) with brief nods to PvP and Archaeology. We've also included select loot from the entry t11 bosses in case you get lucky in a pug. We've organized each sub-section roughly by armor type and primary stat. Several classes and specs can benefit from each list differently, so use your own discretion and theorycrafting. The item with the highest ilvl is not necessarily best, but by listing everything, you can see what items are similar and potentially easier to acquire. Some slots are infamous for having hardly any options, such as wrists. Other slots, such as waists and chests, have an overflow of items.

Everyone treats their alts differently---some players buy every epic on the AH, others chain-run heroics, others do hardly anything at all--so we've set up item comparisons to help you navigate the options and ultimately decide which item is the most efficient for your playstyle and goals. Some reputation requirements are easy to reach, such as Guardians of Hyjal revered, if you've done a bit of questing. However, if your alt has leveled primarily through gathering professions and hates questing, you might look into finding well-itemized BoEs instead. If you're still struggling to find loot beyond these options, consider the rare-quality rewards from dungeon quests, lower ilvl BoEs, and ilvl 333 honored reputation rewards. Don't want some of the items featured on the item comparison? Simply remove them to compare what is best for your spec. Use the weight scale to further refine what is best for your class/spec.

Reputation vendors: Cord of the Raven Queen is a solid starter belt for both shadow and healing priests. It requires exalted with the Guardians of Hyjal--by the time you've finished questing in Hyjal, you'll be well into revered.

Trinkets

There are no new trinkets added in 4.1 except for the adorable yet statless Miniature Voodoo Mask. However, there is a vast array of trinkets currently in the game (although they never seem to drop when you need them to) with more to come in Firelands. We’d list them all, but your eyes would glaze over after several pages. In short—Alchemy and Jewelcrafting trinkets are quite solid, the new Darkmoon Faire cards are worth investing in for most classes and specs, there are epic trinkets available for 1650 VP, and dozens of trinkets from heroics.

Cloaks

Agility Cloaks

New to 4.1: Recovered Cloak of Frostheim is an upgraded version of the Earthen Ring cape. The reputation cape is easy to acquire and the Valor Point cape is cheap, so don't try to farm this unless you absolutely want to min-max those stats.

New Weapons, Off-hands, Shields, Thrown, and Wands

Like trinkets, there are numerous weapons that never drop when you need them to. Both Blacksmithing and Inscription can create ilvl 346 weapons if you haven't seen any heroic drops, but the materials required for these crafted weapons is a bit extreme. Definitely run the new instances to aim for a new weapon--casters will be especially happy to see new epic spellpower weapons and wands! With a flood of Maelstrom Crystals in the future, there's no reason for your alt not to farm up a new epic weapon and put a top-line enchant on it.

PvP Rewards

A list of PvP rare and epic quality rewards is here. Collect conquest points for epic PvP gear primarily through rated battlegrounds and arena. Collect honor points for rare-quality PvP gear primarily through battlegrounds and Tol Barad. In the past, casters desperate for a wand upgrade would play several arena matches to purchase an epic wand.

BoP Profession Epics

Honorary mention goes to Engineering for BoP ilvl 359 epics. Across the board, these epics are the best option available for a non-raiding alt—it's redundant to constantly repeat them under each subcategory. A list of Engineering helms, customizable with a range of Cogwheels, is here. As mentioned earlier, Alchemy allows players to craft BoP ilvl 359 trinkets that provide large amounts of primary stats, which don't require lvl 85 to equip.

We hope this guide will help you have fun gearing your alt up! To read more about 4.1, check out the latest patch notes and watch for Wowhead's own guide to 4.1--coming soon.

Comments

Comment by Ashelia

on 2011-04-24T22:08:25-05:00

;o. Gratz on the sticky.

Haha, I stickied it temporarily for the next 1-2 weeks so people could see how great the gear is for this patch =) I really think it's a wonderful guide for all types of players, from new ones to old and people currently playing to those coming back. Perculia rocks. I am already plotting up more things for her to write guides for.

Comment by perculia

on 2011-04-24T23:57:11-05:00

Hooray sticky!

Comment by perzeus

on 2011-04-25T08:42:06-05:00

too late i already got 10chars over 346 ilvl/flex

Comment by Adamsm

on 2011-04-25T08:48:05-05:00

too late i already got 10chars over 346 ilvl/flex

Groovy.

Comment by Interest

on 2011-04-25T10:04:49-05:00

too late i already got 10chars over 346 ilvl/flex

*shrug* My char is heroic ready...at 84.

Comment by GoldenarmsXXXL

on 2011-04-26T05:30:04-05:00

soo... All trade goods available for purchase with Honor or Justice Points from the associated commodities vendors have had their prices reduced by 50%.

does that include the bloodthirsty gear?

Comment by Azazel

on 2011-04-26T07:41:44-05:00

No, as I also said in the other thread, trade goods mean mining and herbalism materials and the like. Not gear.

Comment by TechDeck

on 2011-05-03T06:25:55-05:00

Awesome guide, thanks!

Comment by Demonyx

on 2011-05-03T11:01:01-05:00

So you give healers a off-hand but not dps casters a off-hand, and you give Dps casters a wand but not healers? And you talk about Balance Pfft. I'm so over this game.

QQ much? Play a role that matters and get better gear. Simple enough.

Comment by perculia

on 2011-05-03T12:52:14-05:00

All classes matter.

Based on the tables I set up, dps casters have a fairly accessible OH from Halfus, one of the first raid bosses, as well as several BoE inscription options. DPS casters have 0 wands from bosses available while there is a spirit one from BWD.

Comment by johnleap1983

on 2011-05-11T17:54:28-05:00

I have to agree with you there.

Comment by Elementkirli

on 2011-05-19T11:59:43-05:00

Thank you very much for this guide, has helped me and my DK alt indefinitely.